Areas/ countries where RTs are much more used/accepted.

When my massage therapist recently ( I wrote of this) took my rectal temperature when I asked her if she would, I said if she didn’t want to, I understood. She related that it was not a problem and that in her home country in South America, rectal temperatures are very common and used in both home and medical settings. She also said having her take it rectally was the best way to get an accurate reading. She proceeded and let the thermometer remain in place for a good five minutes while she gently rubbed my thighs admonishing me to relax.

Anyone have similar experiences?

40 years ago, rectal temperatures were very common in France. Adults often took their temperature rectally, and hospitals assumed that adults, teenagers and older children knew how to insert a thermometer into their rectum (I suppose that if you were unfamiliar, the nurse would do it). My mother knew no other method (meaning: she considered other methods to be unreliable).

These days are now long gone. Adults over 40 may have kept the habit of taking their temperature rectally, and rectal temperatures are still used on babies, but generally temperatures are now often taken by infrared "guns".

@OverRainbow I'm curious where your MT is from in South America. I have a handful of colleagues and friends from Latin America (Argentina, Chile, and Peru) and what she has told you, and demonstrated is consistent with what they have told me. They've said in homes now, it's probably about 75/25 (rectal to "other") but at a doctor or hospital, it's "in your colita" only!

@OverRainbow Electronic thermometer?

To answer the two questions about my MT and type thermometer.

She says she is from Peru.

As for the thermometer, it is mine, which I think I mentioned in my initial post about her taking my temperature. It is a B-D red flash RECTAL mercury thermometer.

Thanks for your inquiries.

@OverRainbow that sounds exciting. Your massage therapist said it's common today? I've heard of it being common in many countries 30-40 years ago, but it seems to be rare anywhere today. I have asked a good number of people from South America. They all said it is rare today. I did have a friend who told me it was common in Cuba about 20-25 years ago. I wrote a post about here some years back. She did not know if it still was common.

It's usually the risk of getting sued or accused of being a pervert. @Shygirl17 was in the hospital last month. We literally asked for a rectal temp because we wanted to know what the problem could be. They refused because her oral temp was normal. I had an ear temp of 99 before and I knew I was sicker. Trying telling the nurse, but she would not listen. Went home and had a 103.5 rectal temp.

@AnthonyRT ,

Thanks for weighing in on this discussion.

My reaction to the MT taking my temperature rectally was one of surprise. Her remarks also got my attention.

I tend to agree with you in that a number of years ago, the rectal temperature practice was more common for a number of reasons. The necessity for medical conditions/ reasons, medical venue’s protocols, and in my case, more times than not, when I asked for a RT, it was done, often with the admonition of it being the best way. There were times where it was not taken. Also rectal thermometers mostly glass were still very much used until the concerns about mercury came about. Then the electronic thermometers came into use, and were also used orally and rectally. Experienced my fair share of them rectally.

With Covid, the use of scanner thermometers was as we know, prevalent, though accurate measurements were not always being obtained. The ear thermometer readings are/ were up for debate. You cite your situation. A near 4 degree difference doesn’t speak well of the ear thermometer (could it have been faulty/ low battery?)

As for @Shygirl17 I can see why with a “normal” oral temperature they would not do a rectal read. As I said, above, medical necessity might have required a rectal and that may have been based on as they say, how she “presented” or as in the case of suspected ailments such as appendicitis, RTs are sometimes preferred.

Now back to my MT. Won’t see her until late July but when I do, I will re-visit the RT issue- with her or she may raise it, asking if she wishes to or can repeat it. Or I can approach it and see what her experiences were /are and how she feels about it being done on her. And I will if she is agreeable, do a rectal on her. She might be agreeable, but if she declines and she might say she doesn’t need it as she’s well, then I will drop it, though it might be that as you said, some 30-40 years ago, yes it was as she said, common; and unless her related experiences are different and it is something she still does or has had done, recently in say the last few years then perhaps I will be able to take a rectal temperature on her.

Will let you know. And again thanks for weighing in.